Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin rash is not related to service, including exposure to herbicides. The current evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected hallux abducto-valgus of the right foot with bunionectomy residuals is currently rated at 10 percent, and a separate rating for pain caused by a retained surgical wire has been granted.

The Veteran's left hand disability is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current regulations. The condition is characterized by arthritis and pain in the fingers of his left hand.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing an opinion on the impact of his bilateral epiphora on his employment in the railroad industry.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cold injury residuals, hands and two great toes due to new evidence. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed joint and extremity disorder. The TDIU claim will be deferred until after the service connection issue has been adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in Thailand and whether his chronic lymphocytic leukemia is related to this exposure.

The Veteran's left thigh injury involving muscle group XIV is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The claim for TDIU was also granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to decide the claims for service connection due to incomplete service records and unverified exposure to ionizing radiation. The appellant's service treatment records are presumed destroyed, and there is no readily available documentation of a claimed accident during training exercise. Claims for kidney and liver conditions are based on alleged exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's progressive cerebellar degeneration is likely due to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of an extraschedular evaluation. The issue remains about entitlement to a compensable disability rating for service-connected vocal cord dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of an injury to the last three knuckles and fingers of the right hand is being remanded due to incomplete records, including missing active duty service treatment records. The Veteran has not been provided a VA medical examination for his claimed disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for further development of the record, including a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right and left foot dermatophytosis do not warrant a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Veteran's laryngeal cancer is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The Board found new and material evidence for his herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-L5, granting service connection.

The Board denied both the claim for legal entitlement to VA death benefits as a child of the Veteran and the accrued benefits claim, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the former claim and that the appellant did not meet eligibility requirements for accrued benefits.

The Veteran's death was caused by cancer of the head and neck, which is not service-connected. The Board found no evidence linking the cancer to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further consideration of his claim, including any new theories of entitlement and evidence submitted since the last decision.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at MIMC from February 13, 2008 to March 3, 2008 were granted as the treatment was for a continued medical emergency and VA facilities were not feasibly available.